Many have an eye for art and love for images. And city youngsters have converted their love for photography into a way of life, and a means of self-reliance.
Beyond tried and tested options of start-ups and internships, college students are choosing to pursue their passion both for experience and pocket money. Intere-stingly, photography and filmmaking seem to be favourites!
Daniel Chinta, a third year B.Sc. Agriculture Science and Rural Development student from Loyola Academy in the city, has turned his interest in filmmaking and love for telling stories through images, into an income source. “I always loved clicking images but pursued a professional degree to secure my career first, as suggested by family. However, knowing my love for the art, my mother gifted me a DSLR in my first year of college. There has been no looking back since and my camera tags along with me every single day. From the first camera that my mother gifted me to being able to buy my own professional gear today, I have come a long way,” says the 20-year-old who made time for a photography course from a leading institution just to give himself credibility. Daniel indulges in commercial and wedding photography apart from travel videos and song covers. What gives him happiness is that he doesn’t have to depend on his parents at all.
Same is the case with AJ Aaron, also from Loyola Academy. The 20-year-old B.A. Mass Communication student works on video assignments for over two years now. While he started off with photography, the aspiring filmmaker eventually moved to digital films and advertisements. He shares, “I want to foray into cinema, not mainstream, but the kind that go to film festivals. I will enroll in a film school too. All this is proving to be a great experience on the way to achieving my dream.” Notable among Aaron’s works is the film he made for the Champions Tennis League.
While the duo has taken to photography and filmmaking as a part-time job, 20-year-old Carmel Elista, a B.Sc. Nutrition student from St. Francis Degree College, is using photography as a stress-buster. “I am a science student and love nature. For me, photography is as a relief from stressful college life,” she says, adding, “I found my passion in the craft when I opted for it as an optional elective in college. Now, it has become a very important part of my life.” For over two years now, Carmel clicks nature, portraits and even indulges in street photography. As they say, choose a job you love, and you won’t feel like you are working at all!
